Indiana Military Records Research Guide

The benefits and value of Indiana military records in family history research for ancestors who were veterans are apparent but Indiana military records can also be beneficial to researchers whose immediate ancestors weren’t soldiers in any war. Because of the volume of genealogical information and facts covered in quite a few Indiana military pension records they should never be overlooked throughout the research process.

There are several military records on file at the Indiana State Archives. One of them is an alphabetical index called “Indiana State Militia, 1812-51,” which lists ranks, units, and names of soldiers.

Another available record is the “Card file of Indiana Civil War Volunteers,” which lists the following information: Name, Rank, Company, Regiment, Period of Original Enlistment, Place and Date of Enrollment and Muster, Age, Physical Description, Nativity, Occupation, Date, Place and Manner of Leaving the Service, Promotion Information, Wound Information.

The Civil War State Militia is listed in “Card File of Indiana Legion.” That listing includes active duty dates, as well as name, age, company, and town or county of organization.

The “Card file of Civil War Substitutes” features information on citizens who hired substitutes to serve for them, the substitutes’ names, and the unit where each substitute served.

A card file of veterans from 51 counties called the “Veterans’ Grave Registration” is also available.

There are several books available, which are organized by county and township. They are called “Veterans’ Enrollments of 1886, 1890, and 1894.” They list names, regiments, states where each veteran served, medical issues, current physical state, and children under the age of 16.

The Indiana State Archives also has several other card indexes and documents available. Some of them include: Indiana Militia (1877- 96), Mexican War Volunteer Index, Black Hawk War Militia Index, Gold Star Roll of Honor for 1914-18, Indiana Spanish- American War Volunteers Microfilmed Registration Cards, Registers of Visitors to the National Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic at Indianapolis (4-9 September 1893).

Those who applied for state bonuses for the Korean War and World War II are also listed at the Indiana State Archives. Although, those records are not available for public research.

Selective Service Board records from 1917 to 1919 for the state of Indiana can be found at the National Archives-Great Lakes Region It included Deserter and Delinquent Forms. It also includes registrant docket books, which have been organized according to county and division.

Indiana in the Mexican American War

Indiana in the Civil War

Though no battles were held in Indiana during the Civil War, Indiana was a major source of troops for the Union army and provided a number of important war leaders. The state supplied food, clothing, iron products, and grain to help to ensure the Union Army’s victory.

Barred and Disallowed Indiana Claims – The Southern Claims Commission denied these claims by Indiana citizens seeking compensation for property loss. They were barred or disallowed for a number of reasons. Original data from the National Archives